Stitch transferring device



y 4, 1954 A. WIGLEY 2,677,340

STITCH TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1951 Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STITCH TRANSFERRING DEVICE Arthur Wigley, Burbage, Hinckley, England Application January 26, 1951, Serial No. 207,915

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 9, 1950 Claims. (01. 112 27) It is common practice in the manufacture of knitted garments to link the edges of two pieces of fabric together. This operation as generally practised involves the running of the edge loops of each piece of fabric on to points set radially on the rotary dial of a linking machine. At present it is difiicult to get operators to perform the running-on operation and an object of the invention is to provide a method and mechanism by which the running-on operation may be eliminated.

The invention is based upon the use of a transfer bar to take the loops of the last knitted course of the fabric from the needles on which they have been knitted and subsequently to transfer these loops to a straight row of linking points in conjunction with which a suitable linking mechanism operates. One of the difficulties that arises is that the appearance of the two surfaces of plain knitted fabric differs, when the two pieces of fabric that are to be linked together are both removed similarly by the aid of a transfer bar or like means and are similarly positioned on a row of linking points, because the transfer of the two pieces one after the other from the needles to the point bar (by use of a transfer bar) will result in unlike surfaces being face to face. After linking two pieces of fabric together the surface will remain of the same appearance when opened out into a continuous length only if, when they are positioned on the linking points, like surfaces are placed face to face.

The invention therefore provides a method of bringing the edge loops, of two pieces of knitted fabric that require to be linked together, from 1 needles on which they have been knitted, onto a single row of points so that the two pieces are disposed thereon with like surfaces face to face, characterised in that the changeover is effected by transfer operations between successively-employed rows of loop-transferring instruments and in that one piece of fabric is subjected to one more transfer operation than the other piece. This additional transfer operation reverses the said one piece of fabric so that on the linking points the two pieces of fabric have like surfaces face to face and it will be appreciated that, since the changeover is effected by transfer operations, at all times in the change the pieces of fabric are held on instruments (e. g. needles, transfer points, and linking points) running-on operations are entirely eliminated.

The invention further concerns transfer bars of the type, employed for removing knitted fabric from a straight line of needles On which it has been knitted, comprising a bar body equipped with a row of spaced transfer points protruding in parallel relation from it and constructed and arranged to have their free ends applied to the needles to enter the last knitted row of loops and to remove the latter from the needles by relative movement between the needles and transfer bar. According to this invention a transfer bar of this type comprises the combination of a bar body and a plurality of transfer points, whereof the bar body is formed for reception and removal of the points by relative movement of the latter in endwise directions and has releasable means for holding the points in said body, and whereof the points each have at least one end formed to take a loop from a needle and at least one end formed to transfer a loop, and in addition the points are each so formed that a loop taken on one end is able to slide along the point to the other end thereof and both ends are made to be capable of being held in the bar body. Thus, the initially free ends of the points as they are held in one bar may be inserted and held in another and like bar whereupon they can be extracted from the first named bar subsequent to the release of the holding means thereof. By this operation, when the loops are applied to the linking points, the fabric will have been reversed. Thus one piece of fabric may be taken by such a transfer bar from the needles and transferred to a straight row of linking points and the other piece of fabric may be taken by such a transfer bar from the needles, the points of that bar (with the fabric threaded on) transferred to the body of a second such bar, and then the fabric transferred from the second bar to the linking points. This results in the second piece of fabric being reversed. The linking points just referred to are those of a linking machine comprising a straight bar having a straight row of linking points, a linking or looping mechanism operating at a linking station, and means for traversing the bar endwise to present the points in succession at the linking station whereat the linking mechanism passes a linking thread through fabric held on the points; such a machine is hereinafter called a straight bar linking machine.

The transferv points may be double ended in that both ends of the points are identical and that a fabric loop penetrated by either end may be shifted along the point and stripped off at the other end, or the points may have at one end a pointed extremity suitable for receiving a loop from a bearded needle, or an eye suitthe tricks 2.

able for receiving a loop from a latch needle, and may have at the other end an open channel for delivery of the loop to any type of needle or point.

The bar body advantageously comprises a bed provided with parallel tricks for the reception of the points, and a cap for covering the tricks and holding the points in them.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are incorporated in the transfer bar (and points) which will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a sectional elevation of the bar with its points;

Figure 2 is a plan of the bed of this bar;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the bar taken at one end thereof;

Figur t is an elevation of the bed and the cap;

Figure 5 is a view of an alternative form of transfer point. a

The bar shown in Figures 1 to 4 consists of a bed i of bar-like form, cut in its upper surface with tricks 2 extending inwards from one longitudinal edge as far as the channel 3. These tricks are intended for the reception of instruments or 5, being transfer points. The points are removably held in place by means of a barlik cap 6- which covers the tricks 2 and is held in position by screws 1 at spaced locations along the length of the bar body. In order that the points may be readily released from the bar body, mechanism is provided for rocking the cap 6 so that its front margin moves upwards away from This mechanism consists of a cam bar 8 which is slidably mounted in a channel 9 (formed partly in the underside of the cap 6 and partl in the bed i) and is provided at spaced intervals along its length with recesses It! providing cams or ramps I l.

I, so as to extend across the base of channel 9. Thus if the bar 8 is moved to the right in Fig. 3 the cams ii ride up the pins [2 and cause the cam bar 8 and the rear margin of the cap 6 to be raised so that the front margin of the cap grips the instruments 4. In this movement the cap rocks about a longitudinal axis and in order to permit this the holes l3 provided in the cap for the screws '5 are clearance holes and the under-surface it of the head of each screw is part-spherical as shown (likewise the top surface li of the cam bar 8 is curved as shown in Fig. 1).

In order to ensure that the front margin of the cap 8 lifts to release the instruments when the cam bar 3 is moved in the opposite direction, adjacent to each screw 5 there is a coil spring 16 interposed between the bed i and the cap 6.

A suitable form of manually-operable device or mechanism for shifting the cam bar 8 is shown in Fig. 3. At one end the cam bar 8 has a protruding screw i! received in a nut i8 provided with a crank handle I9. The nut i8 is housed in a stirrup the respective arms of which are attached to the bed I and cap 5 by screws 2! extending through clearance holes. A slight clearance is also left between the inner face of each arm and the surface of the bed or cap as the case may be. The nut I3 is located axially between the cross bar of the stirrup 20 on the one hand and the adjacent end of the bar body on the other hand. Thus, according to the direction in which it is rotated, it causes the cam bar 8 to be moved to the right or to the left.

These recesses receive cylindrical pins !2 inserted in holes in the bed' The instruments 4 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 resemble those normally employed as narrowing points in a Cottons Patent or other straight bar knitting machine, and those employed in transfer bars of the type specified for removing loops from the needles of such machines, except in that they are double ended and are reversible end for end. It will readily b appreciated that after the bar described herein has been employed to take a row of loops from a row of bearded needles the free ends of the points 4 may be inserted into a similar bar body and clamped therein, and then the points released from the original bar body so that they are transferred en masse with the fabric on them to the second bar body.

It will be appreciated that the points need not be double ended and that they may, at one end, be void of the sharp extremity for even under these conditions they will be able to transfer their loops to a straight line of linking points of a straight bar linking machine.

The transfer point 5 shown in Fig. 5 is of a kind intended to be employed for taking loops from latch needles. This point has at one end an eye it to fit over the hook of a latch needle. It may have a similar eye on the other end so that it is double ended. Alternatively, it may be grooved longitudinally in the same manner .as the point 4 and at its other end it may be shaped as shown or it may be provided with a sharp extremity as in point i. The channel 3 is of such a size as to accommodate the, ends at which the eyes It are formed.

In the case of points which are provided with longitudinal grooves 22 the cap 5 is preferably provided with serrations 2! which enter the grooves and register with the tricks 2 as shown in Fig.4.

I claim:

l. A transfer .bar arm arrangement of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated bed member; a plurality of elongated transfer points supported by said elongated bed member extending and slidable normal to the axis thereof; an elongated holding member; means mounting said elongated holding member on said bed member movable relative thereto between a holding position engaging and firmly clamping said elongated transfer points to said elongated bed member with said points extending normal to the axis of said bed member, and a releasing position in which said transfer points are free to slide in axial direction relative to said bed member and away from the same; and releasable locking means interconnecting said elongated bed member and said elongated holding member for releasably holding said holding memher in holding position for clamping said transfer points to said elongated bed member.

2. A transfer bar arm arrangement of th type described comprising, in combination, an elongated bed member; a plurality of elongated transfer points supported by said elongated bed mem ber extending and slidable normal to the axis thereof; an elongated holding member; means mounting said elongated holding member on said bed member movable relative thereto between a holding position engaging and firmly clamping said elongated transfer points to said elongated bed member with said points extending normal to the axis of said bed member, and a releasing position in which said transfer points are free to slide in axial direction relative to said bed member and away from the same; releasable locking means interconnecting said elongated bed member and said elongated holding member for releasably holding said holding member in holding position; and spring means permanently tending to move said holding member from holding into releasing position, whereby when said locking means released, said holding member is automatically moved by said spring means from holding into releasing position, permitting sliding out of said transfer points in axial direction thereof.

3. A transfer bar arrangement of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated bed member; a plurality of elongated transfer points supported by said elongated bed member extending and slidable normal to the axis thereof; an elongated holding member having holding portions; means mounting said elongated holding member on said bed member movable towards and away from the same between holding position nearer to said bed member in engagement with said transfer points and releasing position farther from said bed member, said holding portions being adapted to hold said transfer points clamped to said elongated bed member with said points extending normal to the axis of said bed member, said holding portions firmly holding said transfer points when said holding member is in holding position and permitting sliding of said transfer points in axial direction thereof when said holding member is in releasing position; and releasable locking means interconnecting said elongated bed member and said elongated holding member for releasably holding said holding member in holding position.

4. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said transfer points are similarly shaped at both ends.

5. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said bed member is formed with a plurality of parallel recesses for reception of said transfer points, said holding member covering said bed member to hold said transfer points in said parallel recesses.

6. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said releasable locking means comprises a manually operable means located between said bed member and said holding member and coacting therewith for simultaneously gripping and for simultaneously releasingsaid tral for points.

7. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said releasable locking means comprises a manually operabl means comprising a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member longitudinally thereof and movable endwise therein.

8. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein. said mounting means interconnect said bed member and said holding member for restricted relative movement therebetween in directions to grip and release said transfer points; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises manually operable means comprising a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member longitudinally thereof and movable endwise therein.

9. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said mounting means interconnest said bed member and said holding member for restricted relative movement therebetween in directions to grip and release said transfer points; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises manually operabl means comprising a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member longitudinally thereof and movable endwise therein, said cam bar being provided at spaced intervals with ramps; and abutment means between said bed member and said holding member for engagement with said ramps upon endwise movement of said cam bar.

10. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said mounting means interconnect said bed member and said holding member for restricted relative movement therebetween in directions to grip and release said transfer points; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises manually operable means comprising a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member longitudinally thereof and movable endwise therein, said cam bar being provided at spaced intervals with ramps; and roller means between said bed member and said holding member for engagement with said ramps upon endwise movement of said cam bar.

1. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said bed member has a longitudinal zone at one side thereof for reception of said transfer points, said mounting mean interconnecting said bed member and said holding member along a line located beyond said longitudinal zone for restricted relative movement therebetween about an axis parallel to and in the region of said line; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises manually operable means disposed on the other side of said line from said zone for tilting said holding member about said axis for gripping and releasing said transfer points.

12. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said bed member has a longitudinal zone at one side thereof for reception of said transfer points, said mounting means interconnecting said bed member and said holding member along a line located beyond said longitudinal zone for restricted relative movement therebetween about an axis parallel to and in the region of said line; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises manually operable means comprising a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member for engagement with said ramps upon endwise movement of said cam bar.

13. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said bed member has a longitudinal zone at one side thereof for reception of said transfer points, said mounting means interconnecting said bed member and said holding member along a line located beyond said longi tudinal zone for restricted relative movement therebetween about an axis parallel to and in the region of said line; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises manually operable means comprising, a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member longitudinally thereof and movable endwise therein, said cam bar being provided at spaced intervals with ramps; abutment means between said bed member and said holding member for engagement with said ramps upon endwise movement of said cam bar; handle means turnably mounted on said bed member and said holding member; and screw threaded means interconnecting said handle means and said cam bar, whereby said cam bar is moved endwise when said handle means is turned.

14. A transfer bar arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said bed member has a longitudinal zone at one side thereof for reception of said transfer points, said mounting means interconnecting said bed member and said holding member along a line located beyond said longitudinal zone for restricted relative movement therebetween about an axis parallel to and in the region of said line; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises manually operable means comprising, a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member longitudinally thereof and movable endwise therein, said cam bar being provided at spaced intervals with ramps; abutment means between said bed member and said holding member for engagement with said ramps upon endwise movement of said cam bar; stirrup means mounted on said bed member and said holding member having a bearing provided therein; turnable handle means in said bearing; and screw threaded means interconnecting said handle means and said cam bar, whereby said cam bar is moved endwise when said handle means is turned.

15. A transfer bar arrangement of the type described comprising, a combination, a bed member formed with a plurality of parallel recesses; a plurality of double ended transfer points accommodated in said recesses; a holding member for holding said transfer points in said recesses; means interconnecting said bed member and said holding member along a line situated beyond a longitudinal zone containing said recesses for proriding restricted relative movement between said bed member and said holding member about. an axis parallel to and in the region of said line; manually operable means comprising a cam bar disposed between said bed member and said holding member on the other side of said line from said zone and movable endwise therein, said cam bar being provided at spaced intervals with ramps; abutment means between said bed member and said holding member for engagement with said ramps upon endwise movement of said cam bar; stirrup means mounted on said bed member and said holding member having a bearing provided therein; turnable handle means in said bearing; and screw threaded means interconnecting said handle means and said cam bar, whereby said cam bar is moved endwise when said handle means is turned and said cam bar rocks said holding member about said axis into clamping position on said bed member for holding said transfer points in said recesses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 77,611 Haslam May 5, 1868 1,068,853 Butz July 29, 1913 1,972,039 Dakin Aug. 28, 1934 

